Cloud processing system and method for synthesizing objects based on vehicle aggregation location registry data

ABSTRACT

A cloud computing system includes a network interface for interfacing with a wide area network. At least one wireless transceiver engages in bidirectional communication with a plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices within a corresponding plurality of vehicles in at least one vehicle aggregation location. A network control device receives requests for at least one cloud computing service via the wide area network and facilitates the at least one cloud computing service via the bidirectional communication with the plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No.14/834,209, entitled “CLOUD COMPUTING SYSTEM, VEHICLE CLOUD PROCESSINGDEVICE AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH”, filed Aug. 24, 2015, which is acontinuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/466,547, entitled“CLOUD COMPUTING SYSTEM, VEHICLE CLOUD PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHODS FORUSE THEREWITH”, filed May 8, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,146,603 onSep. 29, 2015, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility patentapplication for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cloud computing systems and methods forperforming cloud computing services using a computer network.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The popularity of video and gaming applications and othercomputationally intensive applications have increased the datarequirements for home users. Users have begun to expect mobile devicesto perform a wider variety of tasks, in spite of the desire for mobiledevices to be small and portable. Computation tasks associated withdigital data sources from commercial entities are growing also rapidly.Examples of such commercial entities include both online and brick andmortar entities such as businesses, educational institutions, researchand science organizations, healthcare providers, entertainmentcompanies, governmental organizations and other entities. While thecomputational requirements of such commercial entities may offerbreakthrough discoveries and innovations, and new and more attractiveproducts and services, these requirements frequently come at the cost ofsignificant increases in associated energy consumption, carbon footprintand costs.

The amount of electricity used by servers and other Internetinfrastructure has become an important issue in recent years as demandsfor new Internet services such as music downloads, video-on-demand, andInternet telephony, have become more widespread. Aggregate electricityuse for servers doubled over the period 2000 to 2005 both in the U.S.and worldwide. Total power used by servers represented about 0.6% oftotal U.S. electricity consumption in 2005. The total power demand in2005 including associated infrastructure is equivalent in capacity termsto about five 1000 MW power plants for the U.S. and 14 such plants forthe world. The total electricity bill for operating those servers andassociated infrastructure in 2005 was about $2.7 B and $7.2 B for theU.S. and the world, respectively. Electricity used in global datacenters in 2010 likely accounted for between 1.1% and 1.5% of totalelectricity use, respectively. For the US that number was between 1.7and 2.2%. There is a need for providing new computing and dataprocessing resources for information services that are capable ofperforming computationally intensive tasks while effectively reducingthe associated energy requirements and overall carbon footprint

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artthrough comparison of such systems with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingsystem 50 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingsystem 50 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 presents a block diagram representation of a memory module 102 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingsystem 50′ in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 presents a pictorial block diagram representation of a vehiclewith a vehicle cloud processing device 80 in accordance with a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 presents a block diagram representation of vehicle cloudprocessing device 80 in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 presents a block diagram representation of vehicle cloudprocessing device 80′ in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 presents a block diagram representation of vehicle cloudprocessing device 80″ in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 presents a block diagram representation of vehicle cloudprocessing device 80′″ in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 presents a matrix representation of segmentation decisions inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 presents a flow diagram representation of a method in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12-15 present graphical representations of segmentation decisionsin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingenvironment 90 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingenvironment 90 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingenvironment 90 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 presents a temporal diagram representation of service evolutionin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 presents a flowchart representation of a method in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING THE PRESENTLY PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingsystem 50 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Inparticular, a cloud computing system 50 includes a network interface 45for interfacing with a wide area network such as an internet protocol(IP) network 40 or other wide area network. One or more wirelesstransceivers 48 engage in bidirectional communication with a pluralityof vehicle cloud processing devices 80 within a corresponding pluralityof vehicles in at least one vehicle aggregation location 85. The vehicleaggregation location or locations 85 can be parking lots, parkinggarages and other parking facilities and structures, and can alsoinclude other parking locations such as street parking locations anddriveway parking locations associated with a geographic area—aneighborhood, community or other place where vehicles congregate.

A network control device 47 receives requests for cloud computingservices from users of client devices 30 via the IP network 40 andfacilitates the cloud computing service via the bidirectionalcommunication with the plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices 80.In particular, the network control device 47 utilizes the computingresources of the vehicle cloud processing devices 80 to create a cloudcomputing environment that fulfills the requests for cloud computingservices.

The client devices can include wireless or wireline communicationdevices such as mobile telephones, mobile data devices, tablet computingsystems, digital books, cameras, game devices such as video games,internet televisions, set top boxes, digital video recorders and othercloud computing clients devices. The users of such client devices 30 caninclude personal users, sports and entertainment organizations, users ofcloud computing centers, data centers, business computing centers,academic and research computing centers, vehicle associated users andother users of client devices 30. In an embodiment of the presentinvention each client device 30 includes a processing element and memorythat stores a cloud computing client application that is executed by theprocessing element to generate requests for cloud computing services andto receive the cloud computing services in response thereto. Inaddition, the client device 30 includes a network interface forcommunicating with the IP network 40 on a wired or wireless basis.

In operation, the cloud computing system 50 utilizes the function ofparking facilities or other vehicle aggregation locations 85 toaggregate a large number of vehicles that are equipped with vehiclecloud processing devices 80 to provide cloud computing services. Thisharnesses the potential associated with parked vehicles. In particular,vehicles are parked approximately 95% of the time, over time (i.e.minutes, hours, days) on a repetitive basis throughout the year in oneor more geographic locations (i.e. locations associated with businesses,including existing data centers, academic organizations, entertainmentlocations including stadiums, and theme parks, hospitals, governmentorganizations, transportation facilities such as airports, and trainstations, and city centers) and within one or more time zones. The cloudcomputing system 50 makes use of vehicles having vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80, such as cloud processing devices such as eithercommercial off-the-shelf equipment or integrated vehicle systems havinga wireless transceiver that is capable of communicating with wirelesstransceiver 48 and further having high performance computing and storagedevices that can perform computational tasks assigned by network controldevice 47 as part of a cloud computing environment. In this fashion, thecloud computing system 50 can fulfill requests for cloud computingservices such as public cloud services, private cloud services,community cloud services, hybrid cloud services, internal cloudservices, software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS),and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and other cloud services via theIP network 40.

While the vehicle cloud processing devices may be powered via eithertheir own power sources or via the electrical system of the vehicle inwhich they are associated, as shown, the wireless transceiver 48 caninclude a wireless powering system 49 that emits electromagnetic energythat is harvested by a power system of one or more of the vehicle cloudprocessing devices to power these vehicle cloud processing devices 80.While the wireless powering system 49 is shown as part of the wirelesstransceiver and may operate via one or more radio frequency (RF)carriers of the wireless transceiver 48, the wireless powering system 49can be a separate system that operates via either short-field or longfield electromagnetic (including magnetic) emissions to provide power toone or more of the vehicle cloud processing devices 80.

The particular vehicle cloud processing devices 80 incorporated in to acloud computing environment of cloud computing system 50 can becontinually in flux, based on the particular vehicles parked at thevehicle aggregation location or locations 85 at any point in time. In afurther example of operation, the network control device 47 associatesvehicle cloud processing devices 80 with the cloud computing system 50when the vehicles that carry the vehicle cloud processing devices 80enter the vehicle aggregation location or locations 85 and furtheroperates to disassociate vehicle cloud processing devices 80 after thecorresponding vehicles leave the vehicle aggregation location orlocations 85.

For example, the association of any particular vehicle cloud processingdevice 80 with the cloud computing system 50 can include the receipt bythe network control device 47 via the wireless transceiver 48 of systemidentification data from the vehicle cloud processing device 80 thatidentifies system parameters of the vehicle cloud processing device 80such as the processing power, data capacity, wireless bit rate, batterycapacity, powering mode, resident applications and other systemparameters associated with the corresponding ones of the plurality ofvehicle cloud processing devices. In response, the network controldevice 47 facilitates cloud computing service based on the systemidentification data, for example by allocating computational tasksassociated with requests for cloud computing services based on thecapabilities and possible restrictions of such individual computingdevice that forms the cloud. In an embodiment of the present invention,the wireless transceiver of a vehicle cloud processing device 80 ispaired with the wireless transceiver 48 via a pairing procedure, such asa Zigbee pairing procedure, Bluetooth pairing procedure, an 802.11compliant access point/station association or other pairing procedure,under control of the user of the vehicle associated with the particularvehicle cloud processing device 80. After the wireless transceivers arepaired the first time, the vehicle cloud processing device 80 can beautomatically associated with the cloud computing system 50 uponsubsequent visits by the vehicle to that vehicle aggregation location.

In general, the network control device 47 receives requests for cloudcomputing services, segments these requests into discrete computationaltasks and allocates these tasks to be performed by the various vehiclecloud processing devices 80. The network control device 47 also monitorsthe performance of these tasks by the vehicle cloud processing devices80, collects the results and provides the completed services back to therequesting client device 30 via the IP network 40. In an embodiment ofthe present invention, the network control device 47 manages the vehiclecloud processing devices to complete the tasks, reassigns uncompletedtasks to other vehicle cloud processing devices 47, and optionallyassigns the same task to two or more vehicle cloud processing devicesfor the purposes of fault tolerance in the event of failure orredundancy in the event that the vehicle that contains the vehicle cloudprocessing device 80 disassociates with the cloud computing system 50before the task has been completed.

After a particular vehicle cloud processing device 80 is associated withthe cloud computing system 50, the network control device 47 allocatesparticular computational tasks associated with requests for cloudcomputing services to the vehicle cloud processing device 80. When acomputational task is allocated to a vehicle cloud processing device 80,data is sent from the network control device 47 that identifies thetask, provides input data, and further includes other controlinformation associated with the performance of the task, such as a taskidentifier, time constraints, and other information.

As discussed above, the allocation of computational tasks to the vehiclecloud processing device 80 can be based on the computational power,memory space, link data rate, available battery power, etc. of thedevice. In circumstances where a computational task is allocated to thevehicle cloud processing device 80 that involves the execution of anapplication that is not resident to or otherwise loaded on the vehiclecloud processing device 80, the network control device 47 transfers theapplication in the form of software or other operational instructions tobe executed by the vehicle cloud processing system 80.

In response to the execution of the task, the vehicle cloud processingdevice 80 generally transmits output data back to the network controldevice 47, however, in some circumstances, such as an embodiment thatwill be described in further detail in conjunction with FIG. 9 where thevehicle cloud processing device includes a synthesis device forproducing an object, article or other tangible result at the vehicle,the vehicle cloud processing device 80 sends data to the network controldevice 47 that indicates that the allotted task has been completed.

In addition to the network control device 47 collecting systemidentification data, the network control device 47 can also allocatecomputational tasks to the vehicle cloud processing devices 80 based onthe estimated time that a vehicle will be parked at the vehicleaggregation location or locations 85. This estimated time can begenerated by the user of the vehicle via direct input into the vehiclecloud processing system 80, via interaction with a parking meterassociated with the parking space for the vehicle to reserve a certainamount of parking time, based on a model of the vehicle aggregationlocation or locations 85, as either a retail location, overnight parkinglocation, event venue, a workplace, an airport or other long termparking facility. In a further embodiment, the amount of time remainingcan be estimated on a vehicle by vehicle basis via a probabilitydistribution such as an exponential probability distribution or otherprobability density function.

In one implementation, vehicles users are offered some form ofcompensation in exchange for the use of the vehicle cloud processingdevice 80 in conjunction with the cloud computing system 50. Thecompensation can be in the form of free parking, parking at a discountedrate, access to premium parking spots, the accumulation of pointsredeemable with merchants or service providers, cash back bonus offers,coupons, or other benefits, both monetary and nonmonetary.

Further details regarding the operation of cloud computing system 50 andvehicle cloud processing device 80 including several optional functionsand features will be described in further detail in conjunction withFIGS. 2-20 that follow.

FIG. 2 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingsystem 50 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Inparticular, cloud computing system 50 includes a network interface 45, aprocessing module 100, a memory module 102 and wireless transceiver 48that are coupled via a bus 104. In this particular embodiment, thenetwork control device 47 is implemented via processing module 100configured by operational instructions stored in memory module 102.

The wireless transceiver 48 can include a wireless local area networktransceiver such as a 802.11 compliant access point transceiver, aBluetooth transceiver, a Zigbee transceiver, a Wimax transceiver, a 3G,4G base station or other wireless telephony transceiver, a RFidentification (RFID) transceiver or other transceiver that communicateswith a complementary transceiver of the vehicle cloud processing device80. The network interface 45 can include a network card that couples toa wired Internet connection or other wired network connection via anEthernet, Firewire or other wired interface, a wireless modem, wirelesstelephony transceiver or other interface to IP network 40.

The processing module 100 can be implemented using a single processingdevice or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing devicemay be a microprocessor, co-processors, a micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, graphics processor, microcomputer, central processingunit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, statemachine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/orany device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based onoperational instructions that are stored in a memory, such as memorymodule 102. Memory module 102 may be a single memory device or aplurality of memory devices. Such a memory device can include a harddisk drive or other disk drive, read-only memory, random access memory,volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory,flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digitalinformation. Note that when the processing module implements one or moreof its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing the correspondingoperational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, thecircuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

Processing module 100 and memory module 102 are coupled, via bus 104, tothe network interface 45 and the wireless transceiver 48. The networkinterface 45 and the wireless transceiver 48 each operate in conjunctionwith the processing module 100 and memory module 102. While a particularbus architecture is shown, alternative architectures using directconnectivity between one or more modules and/or additional busses canlikewise be implemented in accordance with the present invention. Itshould be noted that cloud computing system 50 can include other wiredor wireless connection to additional processing facilities, such asfixed processing facilities or temporary processing facilities thatoperate in conjunction with the vehicle cloud processing devices 80 toform a cloud computing environment. In particular, these additionalprocessing facilities can supplement the computational processingresources of the vehicle cloud processing devices 80.

FIG. 3 presents a block diagram representation of a memory module 102 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular,memory module 102 stores a plurality of applications including a networkmanagement application 112 that configures the processing module 100 toperform the functions previously described in conjunction with thenetwork control device 47, a billing usage application 113 that monitorsthe usage of cloud computing services requests by users of clientdevices 30 and that bills for these services on a per request basis, onthe basis of time, on a subscription basis or other billing basis. Inaddition, billing usage application 113 optionally keeps track ofcredits or other compensation earned by the vehicle cloud processingdevices 80 in conjunction with the specific tasks performed inconjunction with the cloud computing environment. Security application116 secures the data exchanges with client devices 30 via IP network 40and further via the cloud computing system 50 and the vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80. In addition, the security application 116optionally scrambles the data provided to vehicle cloud processingdevices 80 and descrambles the output data or otherwise manages thesecurity of the data during processing by vehicle cloud processingdevices 80 in order to protect the security of the data and preventunauthorized access to the data during processing via the vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80. Cloud services applications 118 include aplurality of software modules that can be either executed by processingmodule 100 in conjunction with a particular cloud service (e.g. asoftware defines network application) or that can be downloaded to avehicle cloud processing device 80 to be executed by the vehicle cloudprocessing device 80 in conjunction with a computational task allocatedto that device by the network control device 47.

In addition to the specific applications shown, the memory module 102can store other software and data including system data, user data,cache and buffer storage, an operating system, device drivers, utilitiesand other software and data.

FIG. 4 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingsystem 50′ in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Inparticular, an embodiment is shown where the cloud computing system 50′operates in a similar fashion to cloud computing system 50, and includessimilar elements that are referred to by similar reference numerals. Inthis embodiment, the cloud computing system 50′ includes multiplewireless transceivers 48. These multiple wireless transceivers 48 can bedistributed at different locations at a single vehicle aggregationlocation such as a large parking structure, parking lot, parking area orother vehicle aggregation location to cover a wider area. In one suchembodiment, each wireless transceiver 48 is included in a parking meterassociated with a single parking space for communication with a vehicleparking in that space. In other embodiments, a single wirelesstransceiver 48 communicates with multiple vehicles spanning multipleparking spaces of a vehicle aggregation location.

While described above in conjunction with a single vehicle aggregationlocation, the wireless transceivers 48 can be distributed over multiplevehicle aggregation locations in the same city, or in different cities,regions, different time zones and different continents around the globe.In this embodiment, the network control device 47 and the wirelesstransceivers 48 can each include a network interface to a wide areanetwork, such as the Internet, other IP network or other backbonenetwork to communicate with each other over longer distances.

In one mode of operation, the network control device 47 fulfillsrequests for cloud computing services by allocating computational tasksover a plurality of vehicle aggregation locations, based on theplurality of associated time zones. In particular, requests for cloudcomputing services that require a significant portion of a day or one ormore days to fulfill can be segmented into computational tasks that areallocated to vehicle aggregation locations by the time of day in thoselocations to correspond to times that the vehicle aggregation locationswould be the highest capacity.

For example, in a scenario where the vehicle aggregation locations areassociated with retail establishments, theme parks, or work locations,that are primarily populated with vehicles during the day, computationaltasks can be allocated to these vehicle locations during these times, ona rolling basis throughout a 24 hour period so that tasks are assignedto vehicle cloud processing devices 80 at vehicle aggregation locationsaround the globe. The network control device 47 provides interconnectionof vehicle cloud processing devices across the United States—a largegeographic region and 4 time zones—or Europe or Asia or a globalcombination of geographic regions and time zones. In this fashion, acloud computing service could begin with vehicle aggregation locationsin Asia, continue later in the day with vehicle aggregation locations inEurope and Africa and continue on with vehicle aggregation locations inNorth and South America.

In a more general application, network control device 47 maintains aregistry data associated with each of the vehicle aggregation locationsthat either categorizes each vehicle aggregation location as to expectedoccupancy by time of day and expected duration of vehicle parking orthat provides statistical data that tracks the expected parking durationand time of day occupancy of these vehicle aggregation locations. Inthis fashion, overnight parking garages or lots associated with homes orapartments that are primarily populated by night can be designated notonly based on location throughout the globe but also differently fromvehicle aggregation locations associated with retail establishments,theme parks, or work locations, that are primarily populated withvehicles during the day. In addition, long term parking facilities canbe categorized differently from medium or short term parking facilities.

In addition to the parameters discussed above, the registry dataassociated with the vehicle aggregation location can further includedata that indicates whether the vehicle aggregation location iscommercial or community, private or public, a specific identifier uniqueto the vehicle aggregation location, a further description of thevehicle aggregation location, a geographic location, a time zone, amaximum capacity, the number of and/or capacity of vehicle cloudprocessing devices that are currently available, a projection of futurevehicle cloud processing device availability and pricing associated withthe use of such a facility. In accordance with these embodiments, thenetwork control device 47 can allocate computational tasks associatedwith requests for cloud computing services over the plurality of vehicleaggregation locations, based on the specific registry data associatedwith these locations. For example, long duration tasks can either beallocated to vehicle aggregation locations with long term parking orsegmented into shorter tasks that are allocated to medium term or shortterm parking locations. Computational tasks can first be allocated tovehicle aggregation locations with lower prices and higher pricedfacilities can be employed only when needed to meet the demands ofcurrent requests for cloud computing services.

Note that the scalability of interconnections of vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80 on a global basis offers the potential for largescale computational capabilities approaching millions of processorswithout the large associated power—these large scale configurationscould be used for test beds for development of exascale computing todevelop and test new algorithms, software, and networking technology, aswell as a broad range of other cloud computing services.

FIG. 5 presents a pictorial block diagram representation of a vehiclewith a vehicle cloud processing device 80 in accordance with a furtherembodiment of the present invention. In particular, a vehicle 88 isshown that includes a vehicle cloud processing device 80. In anembodiment of the present invention the vehicle cloud processing device80 can be integrated into the systems of the vehicle 88 including theelectrical system of the vehicle 88 to power the vehicle cloudprocessing device 80 and the display and/or other user interfaceelements of the vehicle 88, allowing the user of the vehicle 88 tointeract with the vehicle cloud processing system 80. In this fashion,the user of the vehicle 88 can enter data into the vehicle couldprocessing device 80 and optionally cloud processing system 50 to enableand disable the vehicle cloud processing device 80, to selectively pairwith the cloud processing system 50 at a particular vehicle aggregationlocation, accept offers by the cloud computing system 50, to monitorusage and to monitor and redeem credits, coupons, receive discounts andto interact in other ways.

It should be noted, that any of the scenarios described herein a user ofa vehicle could use a client device 30 such as a smartphone or otherwireless communication device to directly interact with the vehiclecloud processing device 80 associated with the user's vehicle uponproper authentication or pairing between the client device 30 and thevehicle cloud processing device 80.

In another embodiment, the vehicle cloud processing device 80 is anaftermarket device that is mounted, installed or otherwise placed in thevehicle 88 by the user. Further details regarding the implementation ofvehicle cloud processing device 80 including several optional functionsand features will be discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 6-9.

FIG. 6 presents a block diagram representation of vehicle cloudprocessing device 80 in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention. In particular, a vehicle cloud processing device 80is shown that includes a wireless transceiver 108, processing module 110and memory module 112 that are powered via power system 114. While notspecifically shown, the vehicle cloud processing device 80 can furtherinclude one or more user interface devices that are either shared with avehicle, such as vehicle 88 or that are dedicated to the vehicle cloudprocessing device 80 and/or one or more other devices. While notspecifically shown, the vehicle cloud processing device 80 can furtherinclude one or more other modules including a network communicationdevice such as a wireless telephony transceiver or other wirelessnetwork interface for coupling to IP network 40, a location system suchas a global positioning system (GPS) or other location system, and/or asecurity module that operates in conjunction with a security applicationof network control device 47 to maintain the security of the link to thecloud computing system 50 or 50′ and further to maintain the security ofthe data processed in conjunction with one or more allocatedcomputational tasks.

The wireless transceiver 108 is complementary to, and operates tocommunicate with, wireless transceiver 48 for engaging in bidirectionalcommunication with a network control device 47 of cloud computing system50 or 50′ at a vehicle aggregation location.

The processing module 110 can be implemented using a single highperformance processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Sucha processing device may be a microprocessor, co-processors, amicro-controller, digital signal processor, graphics processor,microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array,programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals(analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions that arestored in a memory, such as memory module 112. Memory module 112 may bea single memory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such a memorydevice can include a hard disk drive or other disk drive, read-onlymemory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory,static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or anydevice that stores digital information. Note that when the processingmodule implements one or more of its functions via a state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memorystoring the corresponding operational instructions may be embeddedwithin, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

Processing module 110 and memory module 112 are coupled, via bus 116, tothe wireless transceiver 108. The wireless transceiver 108 operates inconjunction with the processing module 110 and memory module 112. Whilea particular bus architecture is shown, alternative architectures usingdirect connectivity between one or more modules and/or additional bussescan likewise be implemented in accordance with the present invention.

In operation, the memory module 112 stores a vehicle cloud processingdevice application. A processor of processing module 110 executes thevehicle cloud processing device application to receive cloudcomputational tasks from the network control device 47 via the wirelesstransceiver 108, to generate cloud computational task results, based onthe cloud computational task, and to provide cloud computational taskresults to the network control device 47 via the wireless transceiver.

The power system 114 can be coupled to a vehicle battery of the vehicle88 to provide power to the modules of vehicle cloud processing device80. In one configuration, the power system 114 includes a voltageregulator, diode, overvoltage protector or other device that operatesexclusively via the vehicle battery to power the vehicle cloudprocessing system 80 even when the vehicle ignition is turned off. Inanother configuration, the power system 114 includes a battery and iscoupled to a vehicle electrical system of the vehicle 88 to charge thebattery of the power system 114 when the vehicle is in operation, andthat is decoupled from a vehicle battery of the vehicle when the vehicleis not in operation, such as when the ignition of the vehicle 88 isturned off. In this fashion, as the vehicle 88 is being driven thebattery of power system 114 is being charged. When the vehicle 88 isparked and the ignition system is turned off, the vehicle cloudprocessing device 80 is powered via the battery of power system 114.

In another configuration, the power system 114 includes its own batterythat is decoupled from the vehicle battery. In this mode of operation,the battery of power system 114 can be charged via a solar cell, fuelcell, thermoelectric cell, piezoelectric device or other device thatgenerates a charge in response to the motion of the vehicle 88, viacoupling to a power source at the vehicle aggregation location or viaother external source of power.

FIG. 7 presents a block diagram representation of vehicle cloudprocessing device 80′ in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention. In particular, an embodiment is shown where thevehicle cloud processing device 80′ operates in a similar fashion tovehicle cloud processing device 80, and includes similar elements thatare referred to by similar reference numerals. In this embodiment, thevehicle cloud processing device 80 further includes a cooling system 118such as a fan, Peltier cell, cooling enclosure (such as a spray coolingsystem) and/or other cooling system that is powered via the power system114 and that provides cooling to the processing module 110.

FIG. 8 presents a block diagram representation of vehicle cloudprocessing device 80″ in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention. In particular, an embodiment is shown where thevehicle cloud processing device 80″ operates in a similar fashion tovehicle cloud processing devices 80 or 80′, and includes similarelements that are referred to by similar reference numerals. In thisembodiment, the power system 114′ includes a battery, capacitor or othercharge storage element and operates in a similar fashion to power system114 but that also harvests electromagnetic energy from a wireless powersystem 115 at the vehicle aggregation location to power the vehiclecloud processing device 80″.

FIG. 9 presents a block diagram representation of vehicle cloudprocessing device 80′″ in accordance with a further embodiment of thepresent invention. In particular, an embodiment is shown where thevehicle cloud processing device 80″ operates in a similar fashion tovehicle cloud processing devices 80, 80′ or 80″, and includes similarelements that are referred to by similar reference numerals. In thisembodiment, the requests for the cloud computing services can include arequest to synthesize a plurality of components, objects, articles orother tangible result at the vehicle. The vehicle cloud processingdevice 80′″ includes a synthesis device 120 (including necessarymaterials or resources, or supplies) for synthesizing one or morecomponents, objects, articles under the control of the network controldevice 47 and commands to synthesize the components, objects, articles.As previously discussed, the vehicle cloud processing device 80 sendsdata to the network control device 47 that indicates that the allottedtask has been completed and further could also include information forfacilitating the delivery of the synthesized output and or payment.

The synthesis device 120 can be a printer, a three-dimensionalfabrication device, a bio-sequencing device, biosynthesis device,bioinformatics device or other device that either synthesize thecomponents, objects, articles or provides some other physical result ortransformation. Depending upon the request from a client device, thesynthesis devices 120 associated with a large number of vehicleprocessing devices at one or more vehicle aggregation locations arecapable of or making multiple copies of (or mass producing) one or morecomponents, objects, or articles via mechanical fabrication orbiosynthesis. For example, the cloud computing system 50 or 50′ couldfabricate all of the components of product for later assembly, fabricateall of the components for a kit or toy or prototype, synthesize biochipsor sensors with all of the required biological probes, synthesize drugtargets, new experimental drugs, generic drugs, or vaccines. It shouldbe noted that the synthesis device 120 can optionally include cooling orstorage system for biological materials either for supplies and oroutputs.

FIG. 10 presents a matrix representation of segmentation decisions inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As discussed inconjunction with FIG. 1, the network control device 47 receives requestsfor cloud computing services, segments these requests into discretecomputational tasks and allocates these tasks to be performed by thevarious vehicle cloud processing devices 80. The network control device47 also monitors the performance of these tasks by the vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80, collects the results and provides the completedservices back to the requesting client device 30 via the IP network 40.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the requests for cloudcomputing services can include a corresponding time constraint as to howlong the request should take to fulfill and/or a date that the resultsare needed by in addition to a data constraint that indicates an amountof data to be processed. The network control device 47 generates asegmentation of the requests for at least one cloud computing serviceinto a plurality of computational tasks, based on a corresponding timeand data constraints and facilitates the at least one cloud computingservice by allocating the plurality of computational tasks to selectedones of the plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices based on thetime and data constraints, system parameters of the vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80 and/or registry data associated with the variousvehicle aggregation locations, etc.

FIG. 10 illustrates how one or more computation tasks from a clientdevice 30 can be allocated based upon the digital data constraints ofthe computation task (i.e., small and big) and the time criticalconstraints of the computation task (i.e., low and high) into fourquadrants representing: (A) Big Data AND Time Critical High ComputationTasks; (B) Big Data AND Time Critical Low Computation Tasks; (C) SmallData AND Time Critical High Computation Tasks; and (D) Small Data ANDTime Critical Low Computation Tasks.

FIG. 11 presents a flow diagram representation of a method in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a method ispresented for use in conjunction with one or more functions and featuresdescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 1-10. In step 200 a request forcloud computing services is received. In step 202, the request issegmented into one or more computation tasks based upon a timeconstraint and a data constraint associated with the request. In step204, the computation tasks are allocated to vehicle cloud computingdevices over a region and one or more time zones based upon the timeconstraint and/or data constraint of the computation task. In step 206,the performance of the computation tasks of the vehicle cloud computingdevices in the region and time zones is scheduled and managed to fulfillthe request. These steps can be performed by network control device 47or via other processing elements of cloud computing system, such ascloud computing system 50 or 50′

FIGS. 12-15 present graphical representations of segmentation decisionsin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 12-15illustrate the location of a digital data source initiating a requestfor cloud computing services at the origin of the graph. In FIG. 12, thecomputation tasks associated with the request are allocated inregions/time zones closest to the digital data source when the requestincludes Big Data and High Time Critical constraints (segment A). InFIG. 13, the computation tasks associated with the request are allocatedin a larger area of regions/time zones closest to the digital datasource when the request includes Big Data and Low Time Criticalconstraints (segment B). In FIG. 14, the computation tasks associatedwith the request are allocated in an even larger area of regions/timezones closest to the digital data source when the request includes SmallData and High Time Critical constraints (segment C). In FIG. 15, thecomputation tasks associated with the request are allocated in theentire area of regions/time zones when the request includes Small Dataand Low Time Critical constraints (segment D).

It should be noted that the regions are shown as circular in FIGS. 12-15for illustration purposes only and that actual geographical regions andtime zones may be of different shapes and sizes depending on the speedof communication links, the density of vehicle aggregation locations,etc. It should also be noted that the segmentation and allocationprocesses illustrated in conjunction with FIGS. 10-15 can be implementedin conjunction with other decision rules that take into considerationthe availability of current resources in the cloud computingenvironment, the stage of processing of current requests, the otherrequests for cloud computing services in the queue, and/or the pricingof requested cloud computing services including optional premium pricingfor faster service, etc.

FIG. 16 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingenvironment 90 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. As discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1, the network controldevice 47 of cloud computing system 50 or 50′ receives a request forcloud computing services, segments this request into discretecomputational tasks and allocates these tasks to be performed by thevarious vehicle cloud processing devices 80. The network control device47 also monitors the performance of these tasks by the vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80, collects the results and provides the completedservices back to the requesting client device 30 via the IP network 40.In particular, a cloud computing environment 90 is shown that performs acloud computing service 150 via the operation of cloud computing system50 or 50′ operating in conjunction with a plurality of vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80. It should be noted that the cloud computingservice 150 can be performed by a small number of vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80 such as a dozen or less, by a larger number ofvehicle cloud processing devices 80 or by a very large number such astens of thousands of such devices or more.

FIG. 17 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingenvironment 90 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. In particular, a cloud computing environment 90 is shown thatincludes common elements from FIG. 16 that are referred to by commonreference numerals. In this embodiment, the cloud computing system 50 or50′ has allocated a first group of vehicle cloud processing devices 80to perform a cloud computing service 150 and a second group of vehiclecloud processing devices 80 to contemporaneously perform a cloudcomputing service 150′.

FIG. 18 presents a block diagram representation of a cloud computingenvironment 90 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. In particular, a cloud computing environment 90 is shownincludes common elements from FIG. 16 that are referred to by commonreference numerals. In this embodiment, the cloud computing system 50 or50′ has allocated a first group of vehicle cloud processing devices 80at location #1 and location #3 to perform a cloud computing service 150′and a second group of vehicle cloud processing devices 80 at location #2and location #3 to perform a cloud computing service 150. As previouslydiscussed, these different locations could be in the same region,different regions, the same or different time zones, etc. Further,fulfillment of a particular cloud computing service 150 may begin withtasks allocated to vehicle cloud processing devices 80 in location #2and continue at some later time with additional tasks allocated tovehicle cloud processing devices 80 in location #3. In the alternative,fulfillment of a particular cloud computing service 150 can includetasks allocated to vehicle cloud processing devices 80 in location #2and with additional tasks contemporaneously allocated to vehicle cloudprocessing devices 80 in location #3. In a further example, fulfillmentof a particular cloud computing service 150 can include tasks allocatedto vehicle cloud processing devices 80 in location #2 and with the sametasks contemporaneously allocated to vehicle cloud processing devices 80in location #3 for the purpose of either fault tolerance or redundancy.

While two cloud computing services 150 and 150′ and three locations #1,#2 and #3 are specifically illustrated, a larger number of cloudcomputing services and a larger number of locations can be implemented.

FIG. 19 presents a temporal diagram representation of service evolutionin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown attime t1, a group of vehicle cloud processing devices 80 have beenallocated tasks to perform to fulfill a particular service 210. At asubsequent time t2, some of the vehicle cloud processing devices 80 arestill working on tasks associated with the service 210, but others inthe group have completed their tasks associated with service 210 andhave been allocated tasks from a new request for service 212. At a stilllater time t3, the vehicle cloud processing devices 80 are now workingon tasks associated with the service 212. While two cloud computingservices 210 and 212 are specifically illustrated, a larger number ofcloud computing services could likewise be implementedcontemporaneously, based on the number of vehicle cloud processingdevices 80 available.

FIG. 20 presents a flowchart representation of a method in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a method ispresented for use in conjunction with one or more functions and featuresdescribed in conjunction FIGS. 1-19. In step 400, a network interfacedevice is used to interface with a wide area network. In step 402, awireless transceiver is used to engage in bidirectional communicationwith a plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices within acorresponding plurality of vehicles in at least one vehicle aggregationlocation. In step 404, requests for at least one cloud computing serviceare received via the wide area network. In step 406, the at least onecloud computing service is facilitated via the bidirectionalcommunication with the plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includesdirect coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items viaan intervening item (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, acomponent, an element, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirectcoupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of asignal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or powerlevel. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where oneelement is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct andindirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”.As may even further be used herein, the term “operable to” or “operablycoupled to” indicates that an item includes one or more of powerconnections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, oneor more its corresponding functions and may further include inferredcoupling to one or more other items. As may still further be usedherein, the term “associated with”, includes direct and/or indirectcoupling of separate items and/or one item being embedded within anotheritem. As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicatesthat a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides adesired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is thatsignal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparisonmay be achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that ofsignal 2 or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal1.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processingcircuit”, and/or “processing unit” may be a single processing device ora plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be amicroprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, graphicsprocessor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmablegate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulatessignals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitryand/or operational instructions. The processing module, module,processing circuit, and/or processing unit may be, or further include,memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be a single memorydevice, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry ofanother processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processingunit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random accessmemory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamicmemory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that storesdigital information. Note that if the processing module, module,processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more than oneprocessing device, the processing devices may be centrally located(e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless busstructure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing viaindirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network).Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via astate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the correspondingoperational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, thecircuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memoryelement may store, and the processing module, module, processingcircuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operationalinstructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/orfunctions illustrated in one or more of the Figures. Such a memorydevice or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.

The present invention has been described above with the aid of methodsteps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. Further, theboundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarilydefined for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries could bedefined as long as the certain significant functions are appropriatelyperformed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarilydefined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality. To theextent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence could havebeen defined otherwise and still perform the certain significantfunctionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional buildingblocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scopeand spirit of the claimed invention. One of average skill in the artwill also recognize that the functional building blocks, and otherillustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can be implementedas illustrated or by discrete components, application specificintegrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and thelike or any combination thereof.

The present invention may have also been described, at least in part, interms of one or more embodiments. An embodiment of the present inventionis used herein to illustrate the present invention, an aspect thereof, afeature thereof, a concept thereof, and/or an example thereof. Aphysical embodiment of an apparatus, an article of manufacture, amachine, and/or of a process that embodies the present invention mayinclude one or more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc.described with reference to one or more of the embodiments discussedherein. Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporatethe same or similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may usethe same or different reference numbers and, as such, the functions,steps, modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps,modules, etc. or different ones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/orbetween elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein maybe analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-endedor differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as asingle-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path.Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it alsorepresents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particulararchitectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise beimplemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, directconnectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between otherelements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of the various embodimentsof the present invention. A module includes a processing module, afunctional block, hardware, and/or software stored on memory forperforming one or more functions as may be described herein. Note that,if the module is implemented via hardware, the hardware may operateindependently and/or in conjunction software and/or firmware. As usedherein, a module may contain one or more sub-modules, each of which maybe one or more modules.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of thepresent invention have been expressly described herein, othercombinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. Thepresent invention is not limited by the particular examples disclosedherein and expressly incorporates these other combinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: communicating via a widearea network with a plurality of cloud processing devices at a pluralityof vehicle aggregation locations in a region that spans one or more timezones, wherein the plurality of cloud processing devices includes aplurality of three-dimensional (3D) fabrication devices in a pluralityof vehicles, each of the plurality of vehicles having at least one ofthe plurality of 3D fabrication devices; collecting registry datacorresponding to the plurality of vehicle aggregation locations, whereinthe registry data includes an expected parking duration associated witheach of the plurality of vehicle aggregation locations; maintaining aregistry that includes the registry data corresponding to the pluralityof vehicle aggregation locations; receiving requests for cloud tasksfrom client devices, via the wide area network, each request indicatinga 3D product to be fabricated; allocating the cloud tasks to theplurality of cloud processing devices in the region, wherein allocatingat least one of the cloud tasks having a duration includes, segmentingthe at least one of the cloud tasks into a plurality of cloud taskshaving corresponding durations that are shorter than the duration of theat least one of the cloud tasks, wherein the segmenting is based on theregistry data from the registry corresponding to the plurality ofvehicle aggregation locations indicating the expected parking durationand further based on the duration of the one of the cloud tasks, andwherein at least one of the plurality of cloud processing devicesfabricates the 3D product via at least one of the plurality of 3Dfabrication devices in the plurality of vehicles; and scheduling andmanaging performance of the plurality of cloud tasks via the pluralityof cloud processing devices, wherein the managing includes receivingcloud task results data from the plurality of cloud processing devicesindicating when the cloud tasks are completed.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein each of the plurality of 3D fabrication devices includes a 3Dprinter.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D product includes atleast one of a drug target, an experimental drug, a generic drug, acosmetic or a vaccine.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein each of theplurality of 3D fabrication devices includes a storage system configuredto store materials.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the materialsinclude: materials used by each of the plurality of 3D fabricationdevices, resources of each of the plurality of 3D fabrication devices,supplies used by each of the plurality of 3D fabrication devices orsynthesized output of each of the plurality of 3D fabrication devices.6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of 3D fabricationdevices includes a cooling system configured to control a temperature ofeach of the plurality of 3D fabrication devices, materials used by eachof the plurality of 3D fabrication devices or the 3D product.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein allocating each request to the one of theplurality of cloud processing devices is further based on timeconstraints for completing a corresponding cloud task of the pluralityof cloud tasks or capabilities associated with the plurality of cloudprocessing devices.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the 3D product isone of: a toy, a kit, a prototype, or a sensor.
 9. The method of claim 1wherein the managing further includes: monitoring performance of thecloud tasks by the plurality of cloud processing devices.
 10. The methodof claim 1 further comprising: facilitating delivery of the 3D product.11. The method of claim 1 further comprising: facilitating payment forthe 3D product.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the client devicesinclude a smartphone.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprisingauthenticating the smartphone, prior to receiving one of the requestsfor cloud tasks from the smartphone.
 14. The method of claim 1 whereinthe 3D product includes at least one of a component, object or articlefor assembly.
 15. A method comprising: communicating via a wide areanetwork with a plurality of cloud processing devices at a plurality ofvehicle aggregation locations in a region that spans one or more timezones, wherein the plurality of cloud processing devices includes aplurality of three-dimensional (3D) fabrication devices in a pluralityof vehicles, each of the plurality of vehicles having at least one ofthe plurality of 3D fabrication devices; collecting registry datacorresponding to the plurality of vehicle aggregation locations, whereinthe registry data includes an expected parking duration associated witheach of the plurality of vehicle aggregation locations; maintaining aregistry that includes the registry data corresponding to the pluralityof vehicle aggregation locations; receiving requests for cloud tasksfrom client devices, via the wide area network, each request indicatinga 3D product to be fabricated and an associated price option; allocatingthe cloud tasks to the plurality of cloud processing devices in theregion, wherein allocating at least one of the cloud tasks having aduration includes, segmenting the at least one of the cloud tasks into aplurality of cloud tasks having corresponding durations that are shorterthan the duration of the at least one of the cloud tasks, wherein thesegmenting is based on the registry data from the registry correspondingto the plurality of vehicle aggregation locations indicating theexpected parking duration and further based on the duration of the oneof the cloud tasks, wherein the allocating is based on the associatedprice option, and wherein at least one of the plurality of cloudprocessing devices fabricates the 3D product via at least one of theplurality of 3D fabrication devices in the plurality of vehicles; andscheduling and managing performance of the plurality of cloud tasks viathe plurality of cloud processing devices, wherein the managing includesreceiving cloud task results data from the plurality of cloud processingdevices indicating when the cloud tasks are completed.
 16. The method ofclaim 15 wherein the associated price option indicates a premium priceassociated with faster service, and wherein the at least one of theplurality of cloud processing devices is configured to at least one of:fabricate the 3D product in accordance with the faster service ordeliver the 3D product in accordance with the faster service.
 17. Themethod of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of 3D fabricationdevices includes a 3D printer.
 18. The method of claim 15 wherein theclient devices include a smartphone that generates one of the requestsfor the cloud tasks and further comprising authenticating thesmartphone, prior to receiving the request for the cloud task from thesmartphone.
 19. The method of claim 15 further comprising: facilitatingdelivery of the 3D product.
 20. The method of claim 15 furthercomprising: facilitating payment for the 3D product.